Slack in the steering wheel

[Stang|ess]

There's about a good 1-2 inches of slack in the steering wheel; meaning that i can move the steering wheel left and right, and it doesn't move the wheels.

If i turn off the car, and lock the steering wheel, the slack is gone. Anyone have any ideas what to check for first? Thanks!

 

[Smokeurhonda]

Check all steering components. Including steering shaft and tierods ends. Most likely tierods or ball joints but get under there with a prybar and see what's loose.

 

[AdRock]

I bet money that the rag joint is toast.

 

[BennyBlown2v]

Rag joint on the steering shaft is the main thing, then inner tie rod ends, and then after that extremely loose/worn rack bushings.

 

[Stang|ess]

Where would the rag joint be? I doubt it's the inner tierods as I changed them about 10k miles ago.

 

[AdRock]

Follow the shaft down from the firewall and you'll see it, or what's left of it. It's a rubber ring.

Hopefully the pic below will link correctly. Look at the top right of the picture. That rubber ring is the rag joint.

View attachment 318013

 

[Smokeurhonda]

Follow the shaft down from the firewall and you'll see it, or what's left of it. It's a rubber ring.

Hopefully the pic below will link correctly. Look at the top right of the picture. That rubber ring is the rag joint.

View attachment 317962

Can you replace just the joint or do you need a whole new shaft?

 

[AdRock]

As far as I know you can replace just the rag joint.

 

[Stang|ess]

sounds like I'd have to drop the kmember to service the joint?

 

[rugster]

no you dont. just unbolt the pinch bolt and pry the steering shaft off the rack.

 

[kalvick]

or you can buy a steering shaft from maximum motorsports or something. They say theres eliminates the steering wheel movement and not moving the tires.

 

[Stang|ess]

I inspected my car on my day off, and the orange thing on the shaft (rag joint?) is no longer there. How do I go about putting one back on? Doesn't seem like I can stretch one over the bottom portion that bolts into the rack. Thanks!

 

[deftsound]

might be the rack, in which case it's not too hard to fix. I did it on my 91, got a new rack from autozone for 100$ and had it replaced in under 3 hours and it was my first time doing it...

 

[97predator]

Uh, resurecting the dead here, but what if you can't get the darn thing out because of long tubes? Does it mean k member time?